User interface designing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A user interface designing apparatus for easily designing a user interface which can change display parts in accompanying state transitions for events by adding/deleting states and editing the display part and event handling in each state. The apparatus includes a state set editor for adding/deleting states of a composite display part having a multiplicity of states, an event handling editor for describing an event handling for a state transition in each state of the composite display part, an elementary display part memory for storing elementary display parts designed previously, and a state display editor for adding/deleting elementary display parts to be displayed in each state of the composite display part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a user interface designing apparatuswhich can be applied to designing of a user interface for, e.g., aportable telephone such as a cellular phone, a cellphone, a mobile phoneor the like as well as a portable information terminal so that displayparts (e.g. graphic or the like parts to be displayed) can be changed orinterchanged in accompanying the state transitions for events.

2. Description of Related Art

For better understanding of the concept underlying the presentinvention, description will first be made in brief of a relatedtechnique known heretofore. FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings is ablock diagram showing a conventional user interface designing apparatusdisclosed in, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenPublication No. 137599/2000. The user interface designing apparatusdisclosed in this publication is comprised of a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) image designing device 101 which includes a layout designmodule 111 for designing, interactively, layout data, an attributesetting module 112 for setting property data and a generationopportunity or timing setting module 113 for setting generationopportunities or timings on a GUI part-by-part basis, a design datastoring device 102 which includes storing units such as a layout datastoring unit 121, a property data storing unit 122 and a generationtiming data storing unit 123, a source program generating module 131 forgenerating a source program on the basis of design data, and an outputunit 104 including a GUI image source program output module 141.

In the user interface designing apparatus of the structure describedabove, a source program for generating GUI parts on a GUI image screenand a source program of an access function is generated when a firstgeneration timing is set or activated, while, when a second generationtiming is set or activated, a source program of a dynamic generationaccess function is generated for generating the GUI part, as occasionrequires.

With the conventional user interface designing apparatus of thearrangement described above, designing of the user interface partsaccompanying the state transitions, as well as simulation of the userinterface containing combinations thereof, cannot be implemented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the state of the art briefed above, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a user interface designing apparatuswhich can easily design a user interface capable of changing over orinterchanging display parts (i.e., parts to be displayed) inaccompanying the state transitions of the events by adding/deleting thestates and editing the display parts and event handlings in each state.

In view of the above and other objects which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, there is provided according to an aspect of thepresent invention a user interface designing apparatus which includes astate set editing means for adding/deleting states of a compositedisplay part having a plurality of states, an event handling editingmeans for describing an event handling for state transition in each ofthe states of the composite display part, an elementary display partstoring means for storing elementary display parts designed previously,and a state display editing means for adding/deleting elementary displayparts to be displayed in each of the states of the composite displaypart.

In a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, the userinterface designing apparatus mentioned above may further include acomposite display part storing means for storing the composite displayparts as designed, wherein the state display editing means may be soarranged as to add/delete other designed composite display part.

In another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, thestate set editing means may be so arranged as to group several states ofthe composite display part. Additionally, the state display editingmeans may be so arranged as to edit en bloc the display parts which aredisplayed in common in the grouped state.

In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention,the state set editing means may be so arranged as to group severalstates of the composite display part. In that case, and the eventhandling editing means may be so arranged as to edit en bloc the eventhandlings which are in common in the grouped state.

In still another preferred mode for carrying out the present invention,wherein the elementary display part stored in the elementary displaypart storing means has properties corresponding to size, position,external appearance and behavior, the user interface designing apparatusmay further include an property editing means for editing the propertiesof the elementary display part added to each state or the state group ofthe composite display part.

In a further preferred mode for carrying out the present invention, theuser interface designing apparatus may further include a compositedisplay part property setting means for adding/deleting the propertiesrepresentative of behaviors of the composite display part, wherein theproperty editing means may be so arranged as to edit the properties ofthe composite display part added to each state or the state group of thecomposite display part.

In a yet further preferred mode for carrying out the invention, theproperty editing means may be so arranged as to be capable of describingthe properties of the elementary display part or alternatively thecomposite display part by referencing values of the properties of otherelementary display part or alternatively other composite display part.

In a still further mode for carrying out the present invention, thestate display editing means should preferably be so arranged as todisplay graphically disposition of the elementary display part oralternatively the composite display part in each state or state group ofthe composite display part while editing graphically properties andinformation concerning layout such as size or dimension or inter-partrelation through direct manipulation with an input device oralternatively by activating directly the corresponding one of theproperty editing means.

In a mode for carrying out the present invention, the user interfacedesigning apparatus should preferably further include a simulation meansfor simulating behavior of the composite display part stored in thecomposite display part storing means in conformance with manipulationinput activated through an input device.

In another mode for carrying out the invention, the user interfacedesigning apparatus should preferably further include virtual displayparts storing means for storing virtual display parts having functionseasy to realize virtually by the simulation means.

In yet another mode for carrying out the invention, the event handlingediting means should preferably be so arranged as to set virtually anevent difficult to realize practically and edit event handling for theevent, while the simulation means should preferably be so arranged as tocause the virtual event to be issued through the medium of aninput/output device to thereby simulate the processing for the virtualevent issued with a relevant composite display part.

The above and other objects, features and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will more easily be understood by reading thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken, onlyby way of example, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of the description which follows, reference is made to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing generally and schematically aconfiguration of a user interface designing apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a hierarchical diagram for illustrating composite displayparts; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing generally and schematically aconfiguration of a user interface designing apparatus known heretofore.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in detail in conjunction withwhat is presently considered as preferred or typical embodiments thereofby reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing generally and schematically aconfiguration of the user interface designing apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in the figure,the user interface designing apparatus now under consideration iscomprised of a state set editing means 10, an event handling editingmeans 20, a basic or elementary display part storing means 30, a statedisplay editing means 40, a composite display part storing means 50, anproperty editing means 60, a composite display part properties settingmeans 70, a simulation means 80 and a virtual display part storing means90.

The combinatory or composite display part which is subjected todesigning by the user interface designing apparatus has a state spacecomposed of a plurality of states for making it possible to design anddescribe displays and behaviors such as state transitions in each ofstates.

The state set editing means 10 is used for prescribing the state spaceof the combinatory or composite display part. More specifically, thestate set editing means 10 is so implemented as to be capable of addinga new state to the state space of the composite display part or deletingthe state already existing in the state space. The individual states maybe assigned with names or identifiers for discriminatively identifyingthe states from one to another. Further, in the case where a pluralityof states are accommodated within the state space, a given one of thesestates may be set as an initial state in order to designate the statewhich is to be firstly assumed by the composite display part upondisplaying thereof. Further, a function for editing a state group whichis composed of several states may be implemented. In that case, sucharrangement may be adopted that by designating the state individually orthe state group, the corresponding event handling editing means 20 orstate display editing means 40 can be activated.

The event handling editing means 20 is employed for designing anddescribing the behaviors of the combinatory or composite display part ineach of the states or state group. More specifically, an event handleris set up for prescribing in what manner which type of the event is tobe handled in each state or state group.

As the types or sorts of the events, there may be mentioned a key eventindicative of actuation of some key, a mouse event indicative of clickof a mouse button, a timer event taking place upon lapse of a designatedor predetermined time from the time point at which a given state hasbeen entered, a release event which occurs after a designated orpredetermined time has lapsed from the last input operation with the keyor mouse, an entry event taking place upon entering a given state orstate group, an exit event taking place when exit is made from a givenstate or state group, a sound input event taking place upon inputting ofsound or voice, an image input event taking place upon inputting ofimage data from a camera or the like, a motion event occurring due tomotion or movement of apparatus and others. Additionally, there may beconceived an internal event employed for communication andsynchronization or the like between or among the composite display partsand others, events difficult or too complicated for realization with thepractical user interface device or the event associated with thefunction being currently developed, and a virtual event representingsuch an event which is difficult to simulate with the simulation means80 and which is provisionally set for the purpose of enabling to designa corresponding event handler, and so forth. Further, properties foridentifying the events in details, e.g. properties Ski representingwhich of the keys has been pushed in the key event, how long thedesignated or predetermined time is set in the case of the timer eventand so forth, may be provided, respectively, for the various eventsmentioned above.

In the event handlers, there are set up the types of events, theproperties thereof and the actions prescribing the processings to beexecuted upon occurrence of corresponding events. As the processingsprescribed by the actions, there can be conceived the changes of theinternal state of the user interface device and the properties of thedisplay parts described hereinafter, transmission or conveyance of theinternal events to other composite display parts and others, executionof some program code(s) and the state transition of the compositedisplay part. Additionally, a so-called guard may be set in the eventhandler in order to enable the decision as to whether or not the eventshould be handled in view of the internal state of the user interfacedevice and inhibit the event handling as the case may be. For describingthe actions and the guard, it can be conceived to use, for example, aninterpreter-executable programming language.

The basic or elementary display part storing means 30 serves for storingtherein the basic or elementary display parts collectively referred toalso as the elementary display parts already designed in advance. As theelementary display parts, there may be enumerated buttons, labels, textinput forms, check boxes, menus and the like. Besides, panels and framesfor disposing therein the elementary display parts and the like may alsobe mentioned. For the elementary display part of a same sort, a desirednumber of parts which are specific with regard to the disposition, size,color, character strings to be displayed and other may be prepared inadvance. However, by preparing these items as the properties which canbe changed or modified so that the proper elementary display part can beedited by the property editing means 60 upon designing, the number ofthe elementary display parts to be prepared previously can be reduced,while the versatility (general-purpose-nature) of the individualelementary display parts, can be enhanced.

The state display editing means 40 serves for newly adding the displayparts to be displayed to the individual states or state group of thecomposite display part or alternatively deleting the display partsalready registered or added to the individual group or the state group.

As the display parts, there may be mentioned, for example, theelementary display parts stored in the elementary display part storingmeans 30, the composite display parts stored in the composite displaypart storing means 50 destined for storing the composite display partsalready designed or the virtual display parts stored in the virtualdisplay part storing means 90.

In this conjunction, the disposition of the display parts to bedisplayed in the individual states or state group of the compositedisplay part may graphically be displayed together with the externalappearance thereof so that they can be manipulated directly with themouse to thereby edit graphically the property/information concerningthe layout such as the dimension or size or inter-part relation maygraphically be edited or the property editing means 60 for theproperties corresponding to the individual display parts. Incidentally,the composite display part storing means 50 is destined for storing thecomposite display parts designed already.

The property editing means 60 serves for setting the values of theproperties of the display parts such as the elementary display parts andthe composite display parts. As the properties, there can be conceivedthe generalized properties such as the disposition and the sizes.Besides, in the case of the button, for example, there can be conceivedsuch properties which depend on the species of the display parts such asthe character string to be displayed and color thereof, backgroundcolor, event which takes place upon pushing of the button and others.Besides, the name, or identifiers may be imparted to the display partsfor discriminatively identifying the display parts from one to another.In this conjunction, the property editing means 60 may be so designed asto realize the editing method in accordance with the types of theseproperties. Besides, it is conceived that the property of given one ofthe display parts can be set by referencing the value of the property ofthe other display part.

The composite display part properties setting means 70 serves for addingand/or deleting the property(s) of the composite display part. Uponaddition of the property, the type of species of the property, the namethereof, the initial value thereof, the referential relation and othersare set. Owing to this feature, the external appearance and the behaviorof the composite display part can conveniently be altered or changed bysetting correspondingly the relevant properties.

The simulation means 80 is designed for simulating the behavior of thecomposite display part.

For simulating the composite display part, the state of the compositedisplay part is set to the initial state, and the display partcorresponding to the initial state or the state group to which theconcerned initial state belongs are generated, whereon the designatedlayout is displayed after the property initialization while thecorresponding event handlers are activated. The activated event handlerthen waits for occurrence of the corresponding event while activatingthe timer required as the case may be, as described later on. Thedisplay of each display part is determined in dependence on, forexample, the property(s). Furthermore, in the case where other compositedisplay part is contained or included in the part to be displayed, theprocessing described above is executed repetitively for the compositedisplay part generated.

In some case, generation of the event can be simulated intactly.However, the event which corresponds to, for example, pushing of thebutton representing a key of the user interface device may be simulatedby the mouse click to thereby generate the key event designated by theproperty(s) or the like of the button, whereon the key event may behandled by the event handler of the proper display part (e.g. so-calledfocused display part). In the case of the timer event, the timer is putinto operation upon activation of the corresponding event handler tothereby allow the event to take place after lapse of a predeterminedtime, which event is then handled by the above-mentioned handler. In thecase of the release event, the timer may be reset every time the keyevent or the like takes place. Further, in the case where the eventhandler corresponding to the virtual event is activated, a specificbutton for generating that event, for example, may be displayed on thedisplay. When that button is selected, the virtual event is generated tobe subsquently handled by the above-mentioned event handler. On theother hand, when the event handler for the entry event of a given stateor state group is available, the processing of this event handler can beexecuted upon transition to that given state or state group.

In the processing of the event handler corresponding to the event, theguard, is firstly evaluated, if it exists, whereon it is determined,whether the processing of action is performed or not. Unless the guardexists or if it is decided that the processing of action should beperformed as a result of the evaluation of the guard, processing of theaction is carried out. In this conjunction, it should be noted that theguard and the action may be described by some appropriate programminglanguage to be executed with the aid of the interpreter, as describedhereinbefore. Furthermore, with the aim of increasing the response orreaction speed to a specific event, priority levels may be assigned tothe processings in dependence on the species or types of the events.Additionally, depending on the type of the event, there may be prepareda procedure for searching the display part which has the event handlercapable of processing the event concerned. By way of example, in thecase of the key event, unless the so-called focused display part is inthe position to process that key event, the event handler correspondingto that key event may be searched from the event handlers assigned tothe panel on which the relevant display parts are disposed or thoseassigned to the composite display parts to thereby execute theprocessing of such key event. Additionally, in the processings for theguard and the action, the display parts may be managed such that givenone of the display parts references the value of the property of otherdisplay part(s) or alternatively the named display parts may be managedwith the aid of a so-called associated array to thereby allow thedisplay parts to be referenced in terms of the names.

When a given composite display part makes transition to another state asa result of the processing of action by the event handler, the exithandler corresponding to the current state or the current state groupwhich is not common to the succeeding state is executed, if such exithandler is present or available. The display parts which correspond tothe current state group not common to the succeeding state and whichcorrespond to the current state are inhibited from being displayed anderased. Further, the event handlers corresponding to these display partsare deactivated. If the part to be erased is a composite display part,erasure of the display parts appearing in that composite display partand deactivation of the event handlers are performed recursively. On theother hand, upon deactivation of the event handler, the processings forinvalidating the corresponding timer and erasing the button forgenerating the corresponding virtual event are executed, as occasiondemands. Subsequently, generation and display of the display partscorresponding to the new state as well as the new state group which isnot common to the current states of the state group to which the newstate belongs as well as activation of the event handlers is carried outthrough the procedure described hereinbefore.

The virtual display part storing means 90 stores virtual display partshaving functions for facilitating virtual realization by the simulationmeans 80, which functions are difficult to realize or very complicativefor the practical user interface apparatus or are currently beingdeveloped.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, description will be made of in what mannerthe display parts are changed over or interchanged in accompanying thestate transitions in the composite display part designed by using theuser interface designing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention described above. Incidentally, for the simplificationof description, it is presumed that each of the composite display partshas the initial state represented by the state 1, the event handler fortransition of one state to another is set for each of the states andthat the state group is not set up. Further, it is presumed that inprecedence to display of the display part, instance thereof is created.

Referring to FIG. 2, a composite display part X has L states inclusiveof a state 1 to a state L on the assumption that an elementary displaypart A and a composite display part Y are used in the state 1, anelementary display part B and an elementary display part C are used inthe state 2 and that an elementary display part D and a compositedisplay part Z are used in the state L.

On the other hand, the composite display part Y has M states inclusiveof a state 1 to a state M on the assumption, by way of example, that anelementary display part E is used in the state 1, an elementary displaypart F is used in the state 2 and that a composite display part Z and anelementary display part G are used in the state M.

Further, the composite display part Z has N states inclusive of a state1 to a state N on the assumption, by way of example, that an elementarydisplay part H is used in the state 1, an elementary display part I isused in the state 2 and an elementary display part J and an elementarydisplay part K are used in the state N.

When the composite display part X is displayed on the condition that theindividual display parts are designed as described above, the compositedisplay part X assumes at first the state 1, whereby the elementarydisplay part A and the composite display part Y are displayed. Thecomposite display part Y also assumes the state 1 in which theelementary display part E is displayed.

Subsequently, when the composite display part Y assumes the state M as aresult of the state transition brought about by some event handling, theelementary display part E makes disappearance while a composite displaypart Z is displayed together with an elementary display part G. Thecomposite display part Z assumes at first the state 1 in which theelementary display part H is displayed. On the other hand, theelementary display part A displayed in the composite display part Xremains being displayed.

Assuming that the state transition takes place in the composite displaypart Z, as a result of which the composite display part Z assumes astate N, then the elementary display part H disappears while aelementary display parts J and K are displayed.

At this juncture, it is noted that the composite display part X makestransition to the state 2, as a result of which all the parts except forthe composite display part X disappear, while the elementary displayparts B and C are displayed. Further, when the composite display part Xmakes transition to the state L, then the elementary display parts B andC disappear once, and the elementary display part D and the compositedisplay part Z are displayed. The composite display part Z assumes atfirst the state 1 in which the elementary display part H is displayed,as described above.

In the foregoing, description has been made concerning the changeover orinterchange of the display parts. It is however to be added that similarprocessings may be carried out for activation and inactivation of theevent handlers corresponding to the individual states, respectively.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the userinterface designing apparatus according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention is comprised of the state set editing means 10 foradding/deleting states of the composite display part which includes aplurality of states, the event handling editing means 20 for describingthe event handling such as for the state transition in each of thestates of the composite display part, the elementary display partstoring means 30 for storing elementary display parts designedpreviously, and the state display editing means 40 for adding/deletingthe elementary display parts to be displayed in each of the states ofthe composite display part. With the user interface designing apparatusof the structure described above, the user interface capable of changingover the display parts in accompanying the states transitions takingplace for events can easily be designed through addition/deletion of thestates, edition of the event handling in each state andaddition/deletion of the elementary display parts.

Further, by providing the composite display part storing means 50 forstoring the designed composite display parts and by arranging the statedisplay editing means 40 so as to be capable of adding/deleting otherdesigned composite display parts, it is possible to dispose/delete theother composite display part in a given state of the composite displaypart. Thus, in the case illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, thecomposite display part Z can be designed at one time. To say in anotherway, even the complicated or complex user interface involving partiallyindependent state transitions can be designed with high visibility orclearness by combining hierarchically a plurality of composite displayparts designed by one and the same user interface designing apparatuswhile preventing combinatorial explosion which may otherwise occur uponhandling within one state space.

Further, by arranging the state set editing means 10 so as to groupseveral states of the composite display part while arranging the statedisplay editing means 40 so as to edit en bloc the display parts whichare displayed in common in the grouped state, it is possible to simplifyand facilitate the edition of the display parts which are displayed incommon in several states.

Further, by arranging the state set editing means 10 so as to groupseveral states of the composite display part while arranging the eventhandling editing means 20 so as to edit en bloc the event handlingswhich are in common, edition of the event handlings which are in commonin several states can be simplified.

Further, by imparting the elementary display part stored in theelementary display part storing means 30 with the propertiescorresponding to the size, position, external appearance and/or thebehavior and providing the property editing means 60 for editing theproperties of the elementary display part added to each state or thestate group of the composite display part, the disposition, externalappearance, behavior and the like desired by the designer can flexiblybe designed with high efficiency without need for preparing a largenumber of same type display parts which differ from one to another inrespect to the disposition, external appearance, the behavior and thelike. By virtue of this feature, the user interface for the compositedisplay part in each state thereof can be realized with enhancedefficiency.

Furthermore, by providing additionally the composite display partproperty setting means 70 for adding/deleting the propertiescorresponding to the size, position and the behavior of the compositedisplay part and by arranging the property editing means 60 so as toedit the properties of the composite display part added to each state orthe state group of the composite display part, it is possible to changeor alter the external appearance, behavior and the like by setting theproperties correspondingly. Thus, the user interface for the compositedisplay part in each state thereof can efficiently be implemented byaltering the properties thereof without need for preparing large numberof same type display parts which differ from one another in respect tothe external appearance and the behavior.

Besides, by arranging the property editing means 60 so as to be capableof describing the properties of the elementary display part or thecomposite display part by referencing the values of the properties ofother elementary display parts or those of other composite display part,designing of the user interface for altering the external appearance,behavior and the like in conformance with the properties of the otherdisplay parts can be much facilitated.

Additionally, by arranging the state display editing means 40 so as todisplay graphically the disposition and the external appearance of theelementary display part or the composite display part in each state orstate group of the composite display part while editing graphically theproperties and the information concerning the layout inclusive of thesize or the inter-part relation through direct manipulation with a mouseor by activating directly the corresponding one of the property editingmeans 60, it is possible to carry out efficiently moditication of thedisposition and the properties while intuitively grasping thedisposition of the display parts in each state of the composite displaypart.

Besides, by providing additionally the simulation means 80 forsimulating the behaviors of the composite display part stored in thecomposite display part storing means 50 in conformance with manipulationinput activated through the input device such as a touch panel, a mouse,a keyboard or the like, it is possible to proceed with designing whileverifying the behaviors of the composite display part which is beingdesigned.

Moreover, by providing additionally the virtual display part storingmeans 90 for storing the virtual display parts having the functions easyto realize virtually by the simulation means 80 as the parts to bedisplayed in each state or state group of the composite display part,which functions are difficult or much complicative to realize with thepractical user interface device or being currently developed, thedesigning procedure can easily be proceeded with while reviewing the newuser interface function at earlier stage of designing.

Furthermore, by arranging the event handling editing means 20 so as toset virtually the event which is difficult or much complicative torealize with the practical user interface device or the event relatingto the function which is being developed or the event difficult tosimulate with the simulating means 80, while arranging the simulationmeans 80 so as to make the virtual event be issued through the medium ofan input/output device to thereby simulate the processing for the issuedvirtual event with a relevant composite display part, it is possible todesign and ascertain without difficulty the operation of the userinterface for the event which is difficult or much complicative torealize with the practical user interface device or the event whichrelates to the function being developed or which is the event difficultto simulate with the simulating means.

Effects of the Invention

According to the teachings of the present invention, there can beobtained various advantageous effects, which will be elucidated below.

-   1. The user interface designing apparatus according to the present    invention includes the state set editing means for adding/deleting    states of the composite display part having a plurality of states,    the event handling editing means for describing the event handling    for the state transition in each of the states of the composite    display part, an elementary display part storing means for storing    the elementary display parts designed previously, and the state    display editing means for adding/deleting the elementary display    parts to be displayed in each of the states of the composite display    part. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    of the structure described above, the user interface involving the    state transition for the event can be designed with ease.-   2. With the user interface designing apparatus set forth in the    above paragraph 1 and further including the composite display part    storing means for storing the designed composite display parts,    wherein the state display editing means is imparted with the    function for adding/deleting other designed composite display part,    it is possible to design even the complicated or complex user    interface involving partially independent state transitions with    high visibility or clearness by combining the composite display    parts designed while preventing combinatorial explosion of the    states.-   3. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus set    forth in the above paragraph 1 or 2, the state set editing means is    imparted with the function for grouping several states of the    composite display part, while the state display editing means is    imparted with the function for editing en bloc the display parts    which are displayed in common in the grouped state, it is possible    to simplify the edition of the display parts which are displayed in    common in several states.-   4. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in one of the above paragraphs 1 to 3 and in    which the state set editing means 10 is imparted with the function    for grouping several states of the composite display part with the    event handling editing means being imparted with the function for    editing en bloc the event handlings which are in common in the    grouped state, edition of the event handlings which are in common in    several states can be simplified.-   5. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in one of the above paragraphs 1 to 4 and in    which the elementary display part stored in the elementary display    part storing means has properties corresponding to size, position,    external appearance and behavior Wherein the properties editing    means for editing the property of the elementary display part added    to each state or the state group of the composite display part is    additionally provided, it is possible to design the user interface    involving the state transitions with improved efficiency by setting    the disposition, external appearance and the behavior of the    elementary display part as desired by altering the property without    need for preparing the parts in view of the disposition, external    appearance, behavior and the like.-   6. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in the above paragraph 5 and in which the    composite display part properties setting means 70 is additionally    provided for adding/deleting the property representative of    behaviors of the composite display part, wherein the property    editing means 60 is imparted with the function for editing the    properties of the composite display part added to each state or the    state group of the composite display part, it is possible to design    with high efficiency the user interface involving the state    transitions by setting for use the disposition, external appearance,    behavior and the like of the composite display part by altering the    properties thereof without need for preparing a large number of same    type display parts which differ from one to another in respect to    the disposition, external appearance, the behavior and the like.-   7. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in the the above paragraphs 5 or 6 and in which    the property editing means is imparted with the function for    describing the properties of the elementary display or the composite    display part by referencing values of the properties of other    elementary display part or those of other composite display part, it    is possible to facilitate designing of the user interface for    altering the external appearance, behavior and the like in    conformance with the properties of the other display parts.-   8. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in one of the above paragraphs 1 to 7 and in    which the state display editing means is imparted with the function    for displaying graphically disposition of the elementary display    part or the composite display part in each state or state group of    the composite display part while editing graphically properties and    information concerning layout inclusive of size or inter-part    relation through direct manipulation with an input device or by    activating directly a corresponding one of the property editing    means, it is possible to carry out efficiently correction of the    disposition and the properties while grasping intuitively the    disposition of the display part in each state of the composite    display part.-   9. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in one of the above paragraphs 1 to 8 and in    which the simulation means is provided for simulating the behavior    of the composite display part stored in the composite display part    storing means in conformance with manipulation input activated    through an input device, it is possible not only to simulate the    user interface but also to proceed with designing while confirming    the behavior of the composite display part which is being designed,    which in turn means that designing of the user interface involving    the state transition can be proceeded with.-   10. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus set    forth in the above paragraph 9 and which includes additionally the    virtual display part storing means for storing the virtual display    parts having functions easy to virtually realize by the simulation    means, it is possible to design and simulate the user interface by    using the virtual display parts, whereby the designing procedure can    easily be proceeded with while reviewing the new user interface    function at earlier stage of designing.-   11. With the structure of the user interface designing apparatus    which is set forth in the above paragraph 9 or 10 and in which the    event handling editing means is imparted with the function for    setting virtually the event difficult to realize practically and    editing the event handling for the event, wherein the simulation    means is imparted with the function for making the virtual event be    issued through the medium of an input/output device to thereby    simulate the processing for the issued virtual event with a relevant    composite display part, it is easy to design and verify the user    interface for the event which is difficult or much complicative to    realize with the practical user interface device or the event    relating to the function which is being developed or the event    difficult to simulate with the simulating means.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein the light of the above techniques. It is therefore to be understoodthat within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described.

1. A user interface designing apparatus, comprising: state set editingmeans for adding/deleting states of a composite display part having aplurality of states, wherein the composite display part is displayed toa user as part of a user interface designed by the user interfacedesigning apparatus; event handling editing means for editing eventhandling for a state transition in each of the states of the compositedisplay part; elementary display part storing means for storingelementary display parts designed previously; state display editingmeans for adding/deleting elementary display parts to be displayed ineach of the states of the composite display part, for adding/deletinganother composite display part in each of the states of the compositedisplay part, and for hierarchically combining the composite displayparts; and composite display part storing means for storing thecomposite display parts as designed, wherein said state display editingmeans is arranged to add/delete another composite display part asdesigned.
 2. The user interface designing apparatus according to claim1, wherein said state set editing means groups several states of thecomposite display part in a grouped state, and edits, en bloc, thedisplay parts which are commonly displayed in the grouped state.
 3. Theuser interface designing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidstate set editing means is arranged to group several states of thecomposite display part in a grouped state, and said event handlingediting means edits, en bloc, the event handlings which are common inthe grouped state.
 4. The user interface designing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the elementary display part stored in saidelementary display part storing means has properties corresponding tosize, position, external appearance, and behavior, and furthercomprising property editing means for editing the properties of theelementary display part added to each state or group of states of thecomposite display part.
 5. The user interface designing apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising composite display part propertysetting means adding/deleting the properties representative of behaviorsof the composite display part, wherein said property editing means editsthe properties of the composite display part added to each state orgroup of states of the composite display part.
 6. The user interfacedesigning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said property editingmeans describes the properties of the elementary display part or,alternatively, the composite display part by referencing values of theproperties of another elementary display part or, alternatively, theproperties of another composite display part.
 7. The user interfacedesigning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said state displayediting means displays, graphically, disposition of the elementarydisplay part or, alternatively, the composite display part in each stateor group of states of the composite display part while editing,graphically, properties and information concerning layout, such as sizeor dimension or inter-part relation, through direct manipulation with aninput device.
 8. The user interface designing apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein said state display editing means displays, graphically,disposition of the elementary display part or, alternatively, thecomposite display part in each state or group of states of the compositedisplay part while editing, graphically, properties and informationconcerning layout, inclusive of size or inter-part relation throughdirect manipulation with an input device or, alternatively, byactivating directly a corresponding one of said property editing means.9. The user interface designing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising simulation means for simulating behavior of the compositedisplay part stored in said composite display part storing means inconformance with manipulation input activated through an input device.10. The user interface designing apparatus according to claim 9, furthercomprising virtual display part storing means for storing virtualdisplay parts having functions realized virtually by said simulationmeans.
 11. The user interface designing apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said event handling editing means sets a virtual event and editsevent handling for the event, and said simulation means issues theevent, virtually, through an input/output device to simulate theprocessing for the virtual event issued, with a relevant compositedisplay part.